CULLOWHEE - Drink all the water you want on the Western Carolina University
campus-it’s good, clean water.

Western’s water treatment facility won one of 14 North Carolina Area
Wide Facility Optimization Program awards given for 2002 by the N.C. Department
of Environmental and Natural Resources’ Division of Environmental Health
for effective turbidity removal.

Turbidity is the amount of sand, dirt, and other organic and inorganic materials
found in water before it is processed through final filters. The state requires
removal of 95 percent of the particulate matter; Western’s treatment plant
routinely removes 100 percent, said Kenny Cook, chief water plant operator.

Western received the top prize of the 14 awards given at a recent seminar in
Forest City. This is the first year of the award, with 116 water plants in North
Carolina vying for recognition.

“This award was not possible without the support of the university, my
department and my staff,” said Cook. Joining Cook in caring for the water
system are Kristy Williams, Marty Prow and Chris Korsgard.

“We test the water every day and baby the water plant like a newborn,”
said Cook. “We care very much about putting out good water.”

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Last modified: Friday, November 14, 2003Copyright 2003 by Western Carolina University